Kara Goucher's Running for Women: From First Steps to Marathons [Paperback]

Kara Goucher (Author), Adam Bean (Contributor)

Book Description

Release date: April 5, 2011

GET FIT, GET FAST, AND GO FARTHER WITH OLYMPIC RUNNER KARA GOUCHER’S COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO RUNNING FOR WOMEN

KARA GOUCHER is crazy, madly, head-over-heels in love with running, and she wants to help you feel that love, too. Whether you’re just getting started or already a seasoned runner, this is the book that will take you to the next level. Kara Goucher’s Running for Women contains her expertise, tips, and tricks targeted specifically at female runners to help you become a better, happier, healthier, and more fulfilled runner. She’ll teach you how to:

• GET STARTED WITH THE RIGHT GEAR

• BUILD A SUCCESSFUL SUPPORT TEAM

• FIND THE RIGHT TRAINING PROGRAM FOR YOU

• OVERCOME PSYCHOLOGICAL SETBACKS

• BALANCE RUNNING WITH FAMILY AND WORK

• AND MUCH MORE

Designed to fit your busy lifestyle, Kara Goucher’s Running for Women is packed with quick tips, pearls of running wisdom, and sample training schedules and nutrition plans, as well as sections dedicated to running during and after pregnancy, managing the special challenges of the female athlete’s body, and maintaining a balance between sporting and family life. Kara Goucher’s Running for Women is the ultimate guide for women who want to train for the gold or simply discover their personal best.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kara Goucher is the World Championship bronze medalist for the 10K and a top U.S. marathoner. A member of the Nike Oregon Project, improving standards for distance running, she lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband, professional runner Adam Goucher and son Colt.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone; Original edition (April 5, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439196125
• ISBN-13: 978-1439196120
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #87,679 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars I Still Love You, Kara April 27, 2011

By Book Dork VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

I was a little disappointed with Kara Goucher's book Running for Women. It wasn't horrible, but I think it could have been a lot stronger and more informative, given her experience.

An Average Run on An Average Day
- Great tips for beginners in regards to getting started, staying motivated, gear, and developing a routine.
- I was incredibly happy with her claim that getting a bad night sleep the night of a race isn't a deal breaker as long as you've resting well the few days before.
- You can tell that she really loves to run- her enthusiasm to the sport and desire to share it with others is evident on every page.
- I appreciated her section on running pregnant; while I am currently childless I know this will be an issue someday and I feel much more at ease (although she is a professional).

A Side Stitch That Won't Go Away
- There are some consistent annoyances that run throughout the book, including motivational quote and why she loves them, as well as "Dear Kara" questions, which should have been slightly more formal Q/A sections.
- There isn't a lot of depth in regards to training or racing.
- You can tell she really struggles with how much of herself and her experiences to put in the text- I felt like she was holding back too much.
- I really would have liked suggestions for some more challenging workout- I am definitely not a beginner and I'm not sure I really gained anything substantial from reading this.

Pretty good book for beginners or for Goucher fans. I wasn't overly impressed, but I still love Kara! 2012 Olympics watch out!

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Also great for men! April 14, 2011

By Brian M. Dixey

Format:Paperback

Being new to "running" in the past couple of years, I have discovered and become a fan of two of the top USA runners, Ryan Hall and Kara Goucher. In my experience, I've had troubles with my flat-feet and shin-splints which has made running difficult. Kara's book actually offers great tips on how to deal with this (tips I haven't seen anywhere else.) Obviously this book is structured for women specifically, but I've found it inspirational, helpful and full of great straight forward advice. Kara points out that the word "train" is a positive thing, even if you do not enter races but are strictly a recreational runner. One of her main messages is "if it works for you, GO FOR IT" which cuts to the heart of emotional and psychological motivation. The spirit of the book is great for any runner, man or woman. As a result of this book, I've decided to train and attempt my first 5k race and see where that takes me. Thanks Kara for the upbeat, positive and motivating read.

19 of 26 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Terrible running book for runners at any level... April 19, 2011

By aimbolina

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I am deeply disappointed with this book and would return it if I could. The advice is terrible with little to no elaboration...thank God I actually have experience running or I would think the sport was a joke. I do not need to be insulted with advice such as "it is ok to exercise during you period"..."or there is a cute guy in my running group, what do I do?" or my personal favorite "how do I look good running because there is a cute guy in my running group". The "Dear Kara" segments scattered through out the book are ridiculous and do not add to the substance of the book at all. Infact I found myself skipping most of the book and ultimately quit halfway through. Stay with trusted names such as Jeff Galloway or Matt Fitzgerald or Amby Burfoot...and stay away from this one. There are much better books for women runners...or runners in general.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Waste of time April 25, 2012

By tm

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm a fairly new runner and needed some sound advice so purchased this book. Wow, what a waste of time and money. There is little substance or helpful advice. For all of her experience she does not come across as knowing much.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars eh. July 26, 2011

By Kb

Format:Kindle Edition

I'm a big fan of Kara Goucher.... but was totally disappointed in this book. If you are already a runner ( i am a marathoner, mother of two....) don't waste your time - you know everything that is in this book. I expected so much more.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, esp. for beginners April 10, 2011

By G. Kellner VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I LOVE Kara Goucher, ever since I saw her come within 9 seconds of winning the Boston marathon. So I ordered this the day it was published. There's a lot of very good, basic advice in here. I appreciated reading about her experiences, and how they related to ALL runners. And I liked how it was set up in snippets of info, so you could read just a bit, skip around, and still get something out of it. She comes across like a good running friend, accessible, relatable, positive and very encouraging. I've been a runner for about 20 years now, and I'm also somewhat of a running book addict, having read a lot of them. This is an excellent book for beginners. There's also good information for pregnant runners, which not a lot of running books address, at least not from personal experience. If your looking for a book to tell you how to shave 7 seconds off your mile splits, this might not be the book for you. Even so, I did find information in here that I could use. I read it from cover to cover and I enjoyed it. Even if I hadn't heard of Kara Goucher, I still would've found it useful. Nice job, Kara.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive, novice-friendly guide July 21, 2012

By Poet and Writer

Format:Paperback

Kara Goucher's Running for Women: From First Steps to Marathons provides a handy guide to women looking to take up running. Goucher, top United States marathon runner and 10K World Championship bronze medalist, puts her years of experience and acquired knowledge into words with this book. The information included is strong and will be helpful for aspiring runners, but it would be more helpful with better organization. Although divided into topical chapters, the information itself is scattered, as the headings aren't always what one would expect, and they're not always relative to or terribly descriptive of the content they contain. The book would benefit from some bullet points and rewording of the section titles.

I enjoyed seeing that Goucher had included many inspiring quotations - some relating directly to running, and some not - in the book, as it seemed a nice touch and motivation to get out the door and run. I also appreciated that questions female runners had asked to Goucher were included in special sections with Goucher's responses. Some of the questions included seemed trivial, though, and many of them, such as, "There's a really cute guy in my running club who I like, but I'm faster than him and worried he'll resent that. What should I do?" struck me as odd to include in such a book.

All in all, the book is a good source of fundamental information for women looking to start or increase their running. Goucher shares her firsthand experience with interjections about particularly challenging races and struggles she's faced. Ideal eating plans and pre-race meals also make up a small portion of the book, along with a basic weight loss eating plan. There is also a section on pregnancy and running.... Women who race regularly and who are truly serious about running are likely to see the book as more geared toward beginners, but it is reader-friendly and addresses a wide variety of the concerns a new runner might face. Read more ›